Been looking for a new pair of running shoes to add to your Christmas list this year? Long gone are the days of visiting your local mall, finding the sports or running store and then picking out a colorful pair of shoes off the shelf. Read on below and let’s see if we can help find the best road running shoes choices for you.
The athletic footwear market alone was an $85 Billion industry in 2019. That’s a lot of shoes, and guess what that means: a ton of shoes equates to a ton of choices. Where do I start? What’s right for me? What’s in my price range, and of course, what are my color choices? Gotta look sharp after all. The good news for us is that no matter what your preference, ability, need or body makeup, there is a shoe for you. And rest assured it’s a good quality shoe, that fits in your price range and looks great.
Lets face it, our feet are the determining factor in choosing your best road running shoes. Our thoughts below will hopefully shed some light on the subject, provide you with some good information and help you make your best choice!!! Enjoy.
The Key Components Of Running Shoes
Heel Counter is the small plastic insert or bucket that cradles your heel when inserted into the shoe. It provides increased support while running. It also cradles the heel and provides motion control during your stride.
Heel to Toe Drop is the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe of the running shoe. It dictates the foot strike and landing zone of your shoe while running.
Outsoles are the bottom of your running shoe. Most outsoles are made of 
hard, durable carbon rubber. It provides traction during your run.
Uppers are the top portion of the running shoe and are built from either synthetic leather (nylon/polyester) which reduces weight and boosts breathability, or TPU(thermoplastic polyurethane) overlays that are sewn in over the breathable panels.
Midsoles span the space between the Upper and the Outsole. This is usually where the stability and cushioning are provided. They are often built from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) which is a type of foam commonly used for running-shoe midsoles. Posts contain firmer EVA added to create more dense sections in the midsole helping with stability.
What To Look For When Choosing Your Shoes
Before you start the process of purchasing your running shoes, you can ask a few questions which will help you make a wise decision.
What is your foot type? Do you have high, low or medium arches? Shoe stability needs is one of the driving factors in deciding what shoe type to buy. For instance:
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- High Arches: Means stable feet which don’t pronate very much meaning your sole stays neutral as you run. This can require a flexible but cushioned shoe to match your comfort level.
- Medium Arches: Means mild pronation and would require a somewhat stable shoe to provide enough support and cushioning to counter that pronation.
- Low Arches: Runners with low arches tend to over pronate and most likely would require a highly stable shoe – also called Motion Control shoes – which will provide maximum support.
Have you suffered from any previous injuries, such as plantar fasciitis or stress fractures which dictate which shoe type you’ll need to consider?
What is your body type – do you need lightweight shoe with max cushioning or a high stability shoe to control the motion of your foot strike?
Are you a high mileage runner or lower mileage runner? Average shoe life for today’s high quality models is anywhere between 300-500 miles, and as always Your Mileage May Vary(YMMV). Yes, pun intended.
Knowing the answers to these and any others you think are pertinent will help you to narrow your search down to a specific category. At this point you can now make an informed decision and lock into a specific shoe category. From there you can make your choice of a number of various models.
What To Watch Out For When Choosing Your Shoes
All running stores are different and therefore their sales people and sales practices are also different so it’s important to have a plan and to stick to it. Some things to think about are listed here.
Know what you’re after and why you’re after it. You’ve gathered your info to purchase a shoe that meets your particular needs. Don’t be swayed by fancy looks, colors (or lack thereof), ” the greatest deal ever” prices, or keeping up with the Jones – “Maria runs in these shoes, so they must be good”. Maria may be an entirely different runner than you are.
Always get your foot measured by the professional before the sale. Yes we all know our shoe sizes, been the same for years. However, it’s important for a couple of reasons. Our feet may change sizes throughout the day, even temporarily, due to activity, standing for long periods of time, or depending on activity levels. Additionally, it will allow the salesperson to know exactly what your size is, and react to the slight differences in shoe size depending on brands and even the geographic location of the shoe manufacturer. What do the construction folks say? – “Measure twice, cut once!!!”
Also, your feet expand during the day for a number of reasons. A good rule to follow is to purchase your shoes at the end of the day. This assures that your feet will be at their largest and if you find a good fit then, you can be confident that they will fit properly regardless of what time of day your future runs are.
Make sure – 100% sure – that they fit. Sounds pretty obvious, right? But it’s not always the case. Shoes that are too small will very likely eventually lead to some type of injury situation. At the very least they can cause painful blisters, broken nails, and possibly bunions. Proper fitting shoes should allow for your feet to expand a bit while running and the toe box should be large enough for you to be able to move or wiggle your toes.
Our List Of 10 Best Road Running Shoes As We Enter 2020
Clink On Our Links Below To See Latest Prices On Amazon.com
- Hoka One One Carbon X
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT
- ASICS Gel-Nimbus 21
- Nike Zoom Air Pegasus 36
- Adidas UltraBOOST 19
- New Balance FuelCell Rebel
- On Cloudswift
- Brooks Glycerine 17
- Saucony Type A9
- Hoka One One Clifton 6
Make It Happen Capt’n
Well there you go. Our thoughts and info on choosing the best road running shoes for you. A bit of background on choosing your shoe, what to look for, what to be careful of and even a Top 10 list. Hope it’s enough and helpful to you but we’re sure you’re on the right track. Good Luck with your purchase and get out there and put those new puppies to work. Enjoy your runs…one step at a time.
